Along the Banks of The Hoogly

Much has been written over the past few years about the British love affair with India, with books ranging from M.M. Kaye’s ‘The Far Pavilions’ to William Dalrymple’s ‘White Mughals’. This love affair manifests itself in many ways; the rhythm of tranquil days in sleepy rural communities, ancient temples and capital cities, medieval towns, palaces and the remains of four hundred years of British influence found in colonial trading stations, fine buildings and atmospheric cemeteries.

All these and more can be found in this unique seven-night cruise along the Hoogly River, once a vital artery for the East India Company and for other empires before them, connecting Calcutta with the River Ganges. Unique indeed as the Hoogly has not been used for long distance passenger vessels since around 1850 with the advent of the railway. This cruise of some 250 miles travels through the rural Bengal countryside taking you well away from the tourist trail and visiting remote and empty sites. Although this is the rainy season, the sun shines for much of the day, the river water levels are good and many of the flowers and flowering trees are at their best at this time of the year.

On the Hoogly’s banks can be found many monuments from the days of the East India Company, the Mughals and one of the most romantic places in India - the ancient capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, Murshidabad, now little more than a village, its mansions, mosques and tombs surrounded by rice paddies and mango orchards.